A Princess in Calico

At seventeen, Pauline watches the sunrise from her bedroom window on the modest Hickory Farm, already feeling the weight of endless chores and a family that seems to have forgotten her birthday. With a widowed father preoccupied by work and a stern step‑mother demanding efficiency, her days blur into washing linens, mending garments, and feeding rambunctious step‑brothers. Yet beneath the routine, she harbors a restless imagination, wondering whether the world beyond the farm holds any wonder worth pursuing.

When a sudden summons pulls her into the kitchen chaos—fried potatoes, tangled collars, and a missing photograph—Pauline’s sharp humor and quiet resolve surface, hinting at a spirit not easily subdued. The story follows her as she navigates the expectations of a rigid rural community while clinging to a flicker of hope for something more. Listeners will find a portrait of youthful yearning and the subtle strength that can arise from ordinary hardships.